Western Tanzania

Mahale National Park

The lakeshore here is of the best powder-white sand, behind which rises a range of forcing mountains clad in verdant tropical vegetation. Giant electric-blue butterflies dance over the streams, and the woods burst at the seams with sound. It's delightful, yet it also hosts Tanzania's population of primates: yellow mandrill, red colobus, blue, red-followed, vervet monkeys and chimpanzees.

In Mahale National Park, the chimps follow the fruiting patterns, and in August-October the lower slopes produce ripe fruit. Chimps can be heard hooting and screeching in the forest behind the camp. The weather is also perfect at this time of year for enjoying the Lake and boats during the rest of the day.

Katavi National Park

Katavi National Park is one of the best parks in Africa, and many safari operations would love to start camps here. However, the logistics and costs are so difficult that only a couple of small, permanent safari camps share this 4,500km² of wilderness. You sometimes run across more prides of lion than other people on a game drive!

The debated best time to head to Katavi National Park is from the end of August until the end of September when the famous denning crocodile and the hippo pools are most visible whilst water levels are low. This said, if you were to head to the region from the middle of June until the middle of November, you wouldn't be disappointed.